Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Big Decisions


Right now I find myself doing a lot of journal work as I have had some rather big decisions presented to me lately! A few opportunities have opened up, and they are very exciting and would be rather large turning points in my life! However, to pursue these opportunities I would have to sacrifice a few things and take some risks. I can't announce anything quite yet for various reasons, but I promise as soon as I can and have made my decision I will make a special blog with all the details. I leave for Florida in 7.5 days and will return around the 20th, I should know by then!



In other news, I am very excited to be going to Florida in 7.5 days! I can't stop thinking about everything that we are going to be doing! Disney World, MegaCon, and so much more! Yet the best part is getting to see the people I care about... and getting out of Emporia, Kansas! I'm always in the mood for an adventure!

Until next time...

Creatively Yours,
Kat Callaway


Monday, March 1, 2010

"Lily the Ladybug Loves to Shop" to be Printed!



"Lily the Ladybug Loves to Shop" will be printed in hardback by the end of April! I am very excited for this! Granted, the book will not be available for purchase in stores, but copies can be purchased though me! (Just e-mail me for more details). I will eventually post prices here as we get closer to the date it is released.

This is a small project funded through an ESU class and so while the book will be "published" through a small press, it will not be officially published in the writing world. Therefore, the manuscript (along with other books in the series) are still available to interested agents/publishers! This just means I will have a nice hardback copy for my portfolio! Which, also excites me!

Lily the Ladybug was the first character I every really worked with when I decided I wanted to make Children's Book writing my career. We have come a long way, and it is exciting to be able to experience this!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

February Frenzy!

February is speeding by but still packed full of events! I am working away at my new major ( I am now in the Elementary Education Program at ESU) and still working at ESU Library and Archives as the Library Assistant II/Night Supervisor. March is just around the corner and I am sprinting towards it with excitement! In 12 (11.5 really) days I leave for Florida again. Besides the obvious reason of going to visit Heather, we will be doing a few fun things! My Christmas present from Lance was going to Disney world, (which, I have never been too and I am completely psyched for it), and my gift to Heather was tickets to MegaCon (also in Orlando and we will be going right after Disney World)! Then, the rest of my Spring Break I will be just hanging out in Tallahassee (never a dull moment there)! I am ready to be out of Kansas and back in Tallahassee. One of the reasons being that I need to thaw out! The weather is ridiculous here, and I am tired of snow. Don't get me wrong, I love snow; but after Christmas it gets rather repetitive and messy! So, I am ready for some fun in the sun! :)

Writing is going very well, and I am about to make a fun announcement on here and can't wait to share news! So look for that coming soon!

For now I am off to write lesson plans and other randomness! Until then...

Creatively Yours,
Kat Callaway

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Happy New Year!

Once again, time has flown by and taken every second I had with it! Upon my return from Florida in November it was a mad rush to get things ready for Christmas, and survive finals! Yet as busy as it was, it wasn't so bad! I was in a really good mood from Thanksgiving break! So much more than what was planned happened over the that time period, and the year 2009 ended even better than I could have hoped for!

While in Florida, my best friend turned 21, we went on our yearly road-trip to Atlanta, Georgia for a family Thanksgiving, and then got back for another epic trip of our own! We decided to head to Panama City for a day and had a pretty amazing adventure! I saw the ocean for the first time in about 6-years and spent a wonderful day making memories with Heather! After she was able to peel me away from the beach we headed in for an evening on the town. On the list was Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum, Sharky's (a wonderful seafood restaurant on the beach), and a few other random places. Then, after one last trip to the beach to stargaze for a bit, we headed home for one last night of fun before I had to head out in the morning back to Kansas. I think I am still smiling from that night! We met up with a friend of Heather's (and a new friend of mine) and he and Heather and I spent most of the night going to random places in Tallahassee. Historic sites, ancient trees, and abandoned train stations. We stayed out for awhile before heading to Heather's apartment to hang out for what would turn out to be the rest of the night. We realized we had been talking all night when Heather said that I had to pack given the fact that my flight would be leaving in an hour and a half! Long story short, I was up for 2 days straight, but it was worth it! I could have slept on the flight home, but I was so happy I couldn't!

Heather came to visit for Christmas/New Year's this year. Add in a rather large blizzard and you had the perfect holiday break! We celebrated Christmas at mom's (who was extremely excited when we surprised her with Heather being home - - she had no idea she was coming); and then we had a party on new years to celebrate 2009 and the completion on my "2009 List!"

Speaking of 2009, it was a rather magnificent year! It started out with a bang, and required making some changes and tough decisions. But I am proud of myself for making them, and changing the stuff in my life that needed to be changed/removed a long time ago! As a result of that, I managed to get my life back on track, and experience what might just have been the best year of my life thus far.


I completed my New Year's Resolution Challenge, which consisted of a list of 60 things to do before midnight of 2010. These ranged from little things I've always wanted to do, to big things that I've needed to do for a long time. There was also quite a few adventurous ones, like skydiving! Which, I am excited to say... I am now a trained skydiver!

;) I also tried Sushi for the first time, went on a road-trip without making plans and ended up discovering some cool places! I leaned how to work a pop-corn machine like at a movie theater, saw almost every meteor shower there was in 2009, spent time catching fireflies, sent a message in a bottle, and so much more! I also made quite a bit of progress with my writing and was able to attend some awesome conference with amazing writers! I also continue to work on Lily the Ladybug and Confessions of a Frog-a-Holic!

I am looking forward to 2010! I have the feeling that it will be a wonderful year, full of surprises; and the best part of surprises is that they make great stories!


Creatively Yours,
Kat

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Thanksgiving Vacation and NaNoWriMo Update


NaNoWriMo is in it's finally weeks with only 12 days remaining. It's crunch time for writers everywhere...and I find myself to be no exception! The good news is that I leave in a mere 2 days (or 1.5 rather) for Florida; which will give me the much needed break from school and work to focus on my novel. Needless to say, my concentration right now is very low as I am ready to leave this very minute!


Things are going well, but busy. I cannot believe we are already to Thanksgiving and that Christmas is only about 35 days away! Time seems to be in the fast lane. When I return from Florida the first week in December, it will be time to focus on finals, and soon after Christmas, a new semester. The next semester will also be the beginning of my new major (Elementary Education), and new classes. Then, around March/April it will be time to start house shopping, which, I am extremely excited for! We will be moving in May 2010, meaning, my life will be momentarily a whirl-wind of packing boxes again.


I will post another update soon - possibly while I am in Florida as long as I have Internet access! Until then, I send out my best wishes to all and Happy Thanksgiving!


Creatively Yours,

Kat Callaway